City to look into diverting trucks from downtown core

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

City staff will soon be preparing information and a report ahead of initiating discussions with the province on transport trucks in the downtown core.

Coun. Mark Hunter made the referral motion at the regular Stratford city council meeting on July 27. The report will provide council and the public with high-level information on diverting commercial vehicles from the downtown, the current situation, key considerations and potential next steps.

As Coun. Bonnie Henderson recalled, trucks in the downtown core has been a conversation in the Festival City for many years – and discussions have been had with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) in the past; however, Ontario Street and Erie Street are main highways in the King’s Highway system and since many trucks are delivering to stores along those streets, it was not something that could be done.

“It’d be interesting to see if anything’s changed,” she said.

“Personally, I've had conversations with the province on this, and it didn't have much traction,” Mayor Martin Ritsma said. “And to that end, I have sent out early on over 40 letters to local truckers that come through here regularly that really don't need to be in (the) downtown. We know there are transports that have to come in … but, you know, just asking those trucking companies and the dispatchers there to encourage the drivers to use our truck routes. So I'm not opposed to that. I think it's worth asking and pushing a little bit for us for the safety of our residents.”

After a friendly amendment from Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach, the inquiry to the MTO will also broach a bypass on Lorne Avenue, another proposal that has come and gone over the years. Hunter stated that he didn’t include that in his motion because, per conversations with director of infrastructure Taylor Crinklaw, he did not think it was a possibility in the foreseeable future – a sentiment Henderson agreed with.

“They’ve been saying that since I was 16,” she shared.

The amended motion was passed unanimously with only Coun. Geza Wordofa absent.